Saturday, 2 February 2013

Entry 1 - Curriculum: Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology

1.

My philosophy
keeps evolving as I learn but the root of it started with my own mother, who
was a teacher for over thirty years, teachers throughout my student career and
my own experience in the classroom and as a mother.

I use a mix of
lecture, questioning, student demonstrations and discussions which prompts the
learner to think and solve problems.

Subjects should be related to everyday
life so it is meaningful and easily understood.

With diligence and
discipline, anyone can learn and do well unless there is a disability or other
underlying problems.

I am current in my
field of specialty and also the world of work so I can truly prepare my
students.

2.

My philosophy encompasses at least three
of the five standard philosophies, idealism, realism and experimentalism.

According to Cohen (1999), under idealism,
“the aim of education is to discover and develop each individual’s abilities…..” Emphasis is therefore on the workings of the
mind and focus on intellectual processes which questioning and problem solving
will accomplish and thereby leads to truth.

Realism is about facts, critical
thinking and logics which are all critical in the ICT world. Realism also speaks to discipline and
exemplary behavior from teachers, tenets of my own delivery.

Information
Communication Technology (ICT) in its very nature lends itself to
experimentalism in that it constantly changes just like the world does. This is the reality I bring to my students. I
encourage them to be current on developments and spur them in to watching
trends.

3.

Beliefs and values are the foundation of
a philosophy and will affect teaching and learning and the curriculum. Kurtus
(2009), states that “philosophy starts with the view of reality and definitions
of truth and goodness”.ICT is
influenced by idealism, realism, experimentalism and existentialism.

Experientialism influences the ICT
curriculum because of advances made every day.
Consequently, the material and
methods of delivery will change often. ICT is used to solve many problems in the
world and this is incorporated in the curriculum.

Existentialism liberates the students allowing them to
know who they are and purpose in life.
It is student-centred learning and suitable in ICT, evidenced in distance
and web-based learning.

4.

Cherry (2010), states that, “psychology is both an applied and academic field that studies
the human mind and behavior” (pg. 1). Teachers should be aware of how curriculum
must be organized to facilitate and enhance learning. Questions like how content is made and what
type of content is suitable to the age and development of children are
important.

Thaffe (2012), says that Jamaican Psychologist, Dr. Claudine Hyatt expressed belief that our curricula needs to be changed to mee the needs of boys because it is more geared towards girls achievements. As such boys have been falling through the cracks.

The levels of student participation on the curriculum have to be
decided. There is also the hidden
curriculum to be influenced as it in turn influences the whole teaching and
learning process. Teachers must use educational psychology to determine this
hidden curriculum and how it will influence education.

5.

Anderson and Taylor (2007), states that
“sociology is the study of human behavior in society” (pg 2). Crossman (2013) posits that sociology is
broad and covers many areas such as, demography, social inequality, deviance
and crime, race and ethnicity, education and religion.

Sociology no doubt will influence the curriculum based on this
background.

June 14, 2012, Gleaner editorial,
“National School Curriculum to be revised” basically acknowledge that our
curriculum at the high school level falls short since enrollment drops between
primary and high school. It suggests
that child labour is one such cause and the curriculum needs to address it.

Recently, our Education minister, Ronald
Thwaites, re-introduced Civics to be taught in the high school curriculum. The need existed to influence national pride
in our young people so they will be more responsible Jamaicans. This is another example of sociology
influencing the High School curriculum.